Beauly Station - the shortest public platform in Great Britain!

A short film looking at Beauly station in the Scottish Highlands, which allegedly has the shortest public platform on the British Railway network.
The platform is just over 15 metres long, and we see how the passengers board the morning peak service to Inverness.
#railways #scotland #trains #trainspotting #britishrailways #scotrail #beauly
#scottishhighlands
ko-fi.com/cliv... is where you can sponsor me with a coffee to help me make more films. Thank you to my donors, who are listed at the end of the film.

[@CummingCouttsBeauly]

Lovely video and thanks for highlighting the sign of the village map - that took a lot of effort by the community council! Paper copies of it are available at various places in the village. We live in the main part of the Old Station, my daughter and her family live upstairs in what was the Stationmaster's House and Lord Lovat's Waiting Room Apartment is a holiday let. We've been here since before the station was reopened, when we just owned the ground floor, and there was never a plan to use the platform on our side as the track was moved back in the 60s when the station closed to passengers.

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Thanks for your comment, it always pleases me when local people see my films and add interesting information. I hope you can share my film with the community council!

[@grahamnancledra7036]

I passed through and stopped at Beauly a few times and I've been struck by the handsomeness and good-looks and loveliness of the people boards and de-training there. So much so, that I think of the Beauties of Beauly.

[@signalcabin]

Two short strait Hornby platforms should suffice to replicate this platform on your OO layout

[@kenalloway1509]

Another excellent video Clive & great weather too! We visited Beauly & the station many years ago on our way to Mellon Udrigle & Ullapool. Alas we didn’t see a train at Beauly although we did catch up with one at the very picturesque Loch Luichart. Nice memories! Thanks for sharing👍🏻

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Thanks for your comment Ken, it's always good to hear of people's memories.

[@nigelfarley814]

I always thought it was Barney Arms on one of the routes to Norwich from Gt Yarmouth but the is 18 metres long. Despite having four trains each way every day it was only used by 48 people according to the last figures. It stays open as there is no road access to the area. When the new DZmUs were introduced ducted it was closed briefly as these units had power doors which were opening on all cars even though the platform was only long enough for one car! Some hasty redesign of the door controls had to take place.

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Thanks for your comment. I did a film about Berney Arms a couple of years ago. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHqygpdvjM95h5Y&pp=ygUTYmVybmV5IGFybXMgc3RhdGlvbg%3D%3D

[@nightshade807]

Loved this video- thank you!!

[@donwright3427]

There's a platform on the Cambrian Coast line about 4 metres long at Llangelynyn for picking the school kids up but not in use since the early 80s I guess.

[@billmmckelvie5188]

This maybe the shortest platform on Network Rail, however the smallest station (not incl halts) in the U.K including Preserved lines is Damems on KWVR in Yorkshire.

[@paulsheward3325]

Gilfach Fargoed on the Cardiff valleys is only a quarter of that length.

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Thanks for the comment, I'll need to look into that! Wikipedia gives its length as 16 metres.

[@joachimbiddulph1001]

Sugar Loaf halt is also very short . However Gilfach should make the record . Whist you visit south wales go to Pontypridd which was the longest platform in the world at one stage. It’s still all intact but not all assessable. If you want more records the first passenger pulled steam train happened in 1801 on the now dismantled tramway . You find the end near Navigation pub , Abercynon.

[@chriswade7470]

It looks like the current platform has been constructed on the old one,by raising the level and cantilevering the platform edge out. This could have been done along the rest of the platform so a 2 coach train would all fit on, they probably only made the new platform 1 x a class 158 coach in length to save money.

[@PlatformONE]

We have platforms that are 3 metres & less. One of our stations is just the top of stairs in the outback, along with some stations with no platform.

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Thanks for your comment. When I did the rail trip across Canada, the train conductor told me that in Ontario the train can stop anywhere a customer requests in advance, for example "I want to be dropped off at Milepost 65", due to the remote nature of some settlements.

[@fhwolthuis]

That's a cute little station 🤩

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Thanks for your comment Frank. It's a cute little village too, with a super baker's shop called Harry Gow.

[@mattkaythetimelord]

Nicely put together and interesting to see, thanks, subbed :)

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Thanks for the comment.

[@moonshapedabsolution]

Another contender for smallest in the UK is Danems station, near Keighley on the KWVR. Isn't on the national network (yet) but is still usable by passengers. Not sure how small it is relative to this one but it is definitely a contender

[@stevedickens1335]

I agree...and depends on your definition of station.I would call Beauly an unmanned halt. Damems has a proper booking office and waiting room, signal box, level crossing and is staffed .Platform is one coach length!

[@RichardFelstead1949]

Great video Clive. Now expect Geoff Marshall will do a report.lol Just discovered your channel and have subscribed. All he best from Australia.

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Thanks for your comment.

[@TheGrimStoic]

what a beauly

[@markwringe2826]

No cycling this time Clive? Saw you pop up on a vox pop on Reporting Scotland recently. There is some argument as to which of Beauly and Conon Bridge is the shortest, but it seems there is only a couple of centimetres difference anyway. Conon Bridge definitely has a smaller car park, but no lovely old station house.

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Thanks for the comment. Happy you saw me on the BBC!

[@chrisst8922]

What is the platform number? Platform 3/8 or Platform 0.3 or something.

[@davidthomas7888]

Gilfach Fargoed halt on Rhymney Valley line is shorter.

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Thanks for the comment. I'll have to look into that. Wikipedia gives its length as 16 metres.

[@davidfalconer8913]

True ! .. but I wonder if Finstock , in Oxfordshire is ( almost never used ... parking for ONE car ! ) .. DAVE™🛑

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Thanks for your comment. I intend to visit Finstock this summer, I believe it's handy for Blenheim.

[@geardo3635]

Reminds me of some American stations

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

In Canada the Via-Rail train from Toronto to Vancouver can stop at any point you want in the State of Ontario, e.g. "Drop me off at Milepost 65 please".

[@hughwilloughby8590]

Cynfal Halt on the Talyllyn Railway is much shorter.

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Thanks for your comment. That may be the case, there area lot of tiny calling points or "stations" on Heritage lines. Like a lot of KZbinrs I don't really count Heritage lines as part of the main railway network.

[@joachimbiddulph1001]

Not Gilfach Fargoed ?

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

I hope to go there this summer to investigate! Wikipedia gives its length as 16 metres. Thanks for the comment.

[@robbierunciman]

Three Oaks in East Sussex is really short.

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Three Oaks and Guestling Halt!

[@martinosborn6373]

Chetnole dorset i worked trains through there

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Thanks - I'll check that one out sometime.

[@cwmbargoedorbust]

Sorry mate it's not the smallest, gilfach Bargoed is, why don't you go for a walk there.

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Wikipedia gives its length as 16 metres. Slightly longer than Beauly. But I will go there this summer to count my paces!

[@geoffreymartin2764]

Boy that is a long one. Wondabyne in NSW is less than a standard carriage. Access thru rear door of rear carriage. (If you want to get off you have to advise the guard ahead of time and if on the platform wave something so the driver can see you.) But it's real claim to fame is that there is no road only water access. Only been there for 135 years. 🔱🏳‍🌈

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Thanks for your comment.